Sunday, March 20, 2011

Just a short charm for seed-blessing. The main poem is Paganized from the Carmina Gadelica, but it's pretty thoroughly mutated. It's set in a group context, but would be easy to adapt for solitary work. A blessed spring equinox to all - may the rising light bring strength and hope to all who have special need of it this season...

A Seed-Blessing Charm

The folk come forward and place their seeds and eggs and intentions into the vessels. The speakers come forward, and the Druid takes a small handful of seed and holds it high. The speakers recite:

• I will go out to sow the seedIn the names of Those who give it growthI’ll turn my face into the windAnd throw a proper handful high• The grain that falls on stone shall findNo goodly soil in which to growBut all that falls on Mother Earth,The dew will make it to be full.• The Holy Feast the Day AuspiciousThe gentle dew will softly welcomeEvery seed that has lain sleepingSince the frost of winter’s coming• Every seed takes root in Spring-earthThe King of Summer shines, desiringThat green may come forth with the dewAnd draw its breath from soft spring winds.• I will come round with my stepRightwise round as turns the sunIn the name of the Queen of the Nobles allIn the name of the Lord of Growth and Beauty• Lord and Lady, Noble beingsGive you growth and swelling substanceTo every seed, in heart or furrowAs the Season of Gladness waxes warm.

All join hands, drums start and all sing, dancing if they will:

Lord and Lady hear your peopleBless this seed by earth and sunGrant it growth and bring us blessingKeep it til the reaping’s done

Sing until a stop, then the Druid recites:Long have we slept in winter’s dark. Now let the light rise in our lives as it rises in the world. Let the waters flow and the seeds grow, and the blessing of sun and earth bring us life, love and laughter.So be it!

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Way of the MagicianBeyond Spellcasting, to Living a Magical LifeFriday March 25th – 6:30 – 9:30pm - $25Aradia’s Garden34510 Lakeshore Blvd.Eastlake, Ohio 44095440-975-1911The topic of the practice of magical arts – spiritual skills used for personal goals – covers a huge variety of ideas and methods. From psychic powers and divination to the hidden uses of natural things such as stones and herbs; from working with the spirits to channeling the energies of the cosmos, from tarot cards to gris-gris bags, magic encompasses much of humankind’s spiritual heritage. It can be easy to get a little lost in the maze of techniques and theories available to students.

In this intensive workshop, Ian Corrigan presents core concepts and practices that can help to tie your spiritual work together. The old cliché says “(whatever) isn’t a hobby, it’s a way of life” and it can surely be true to say this about magical arts, especially in our new Pagan ways. In this discussion we’ll combine lecture with exercises and examples to show how Pagan Magic can be a path to growth in wisdom, love, and power.

Topics include:- Magic, Religion & Spirituality – three faces of the work.- Magus, Witch & Sorcerer – a short discussion about style- Magic & Virtue – freedom & obligation- Your Own Temple, Your Own Priest- Building Personal Power- The Two Powers & the Three Cauldrons – Energy-work patterns drawn from ancient Irish symbolisms, used by modern Druids.- Honoring the Spirits – a simple charm to draw the Gods and Spirits toward you in love and respect.

Ian Corrigan has been learning and teaching in the Pagan community for over 30 years. He is an Archdruid Emeritus and a Senior Priest of Ar nDraiocht Fein (ADF), who worked with Isaac Bonewits in the creation of that Pagan Druidic system, and is a primary author of ADF’s basic Pagan training. He is the author of Sacred Fire, Holy Well – A Druid’s Grimoire and has just released a full basic training program in Pagan occult arts called The Book of Nine Moons. Ian holds a 3rd Degree in traditional Wicca, and has spent a lifetime studying and practicing both Pagan religion and magical arts. His workshops combine sharp insight with practiced teaching skill, experienced commentary and reasonably-successful attempts at humor.

About Me

I'm a Neopagan of the Druidic sort, interested in Celtic polytheism as it might manifest for modern people in North America. I'm also an occultist, broadly interested in arcane and magical systems and ideas, from medieval grimoires through Hindu Tantra and Asian shamanism to Thelema and Chaos Magic. I'm a fan of the folk music of the British Isles and its modern inheritors as well as of fantasy and horror lit, especially the work and legacy of HP Lovecraft.